gilpin



Aug. 19, 1941.. (a. e. GILPIN REFRIGERATOR CAR Original Filed Oct. 12.1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l hunfrx GQrf/Z' G G 1941- G. G. GILPIN REFRIGERATORCAR 1 or u 2 sheets-sheet 2 Original Fi led Oct. 12, 1937 Reissued Aug.19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assignments, to Standard RailwayEquipment Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Delaware Original No.2,207,678, dated July 9, 1940, Serial No. 168,611, October 12, 1937.

Application for reissue January 22, 1941, Serial No. 375,481

16 Claims.

The invention relates. to insulated railway refrigerator cars used totransport perishable commodities, such as vegetables, fruits, berries,meats, eggs, frozen fish, etc., and to maintain such commodities whilein transit within a predetermined range of temperature, thusnecessitating the provision of a refrigerant in the summer, a heatingmeans in the winter and ventilating means for use with certaincommodities during some seasons of the year. It has been found thatperishable commodities which have not been allowed to get too cold(freeze) or too hot (bake) have a high market value because they have alonger storage life.

The invention relates specifically to refrigerator cars having hatchwaysin the roof thereof for putting ice or other refrigerant intorefrigerant containers or chambers located adjacent the roof, whichhatchways are preferably provided with frames, lids and plugs of theusual conrangement increases the ice capacity of the car because the icemay be placed in the hatch frame up to the plug,

When a refrigerator car is used to transport certain commodities, suchas potatoes, which generate heat, it is desirable to ventilate the carwhich is done by opening the hatchways. An-

other object of the invention is to provide a path for flow ofventilating air into the interior of the car, and a further object is toprovide means to open part of the space between the container and thehatch frame (or car ceiling) when the hatch lid is in open position forcar ventilation which means automatically closes such part when thelatch lid is lowered to closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to attach thecontainer to the vertical walls of the car so the container may bedetached from said vertical walls and lowered without disturbing theroof of the car. It is difficult to disturb the roof of the car withoutdisturbing the insulation thereof and thereby affecting the insulatingvalue of the roof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a cross section on the top of a refrigerator car providedwith my improved structure.

Fig. Zsh-owsa longiutdinal section of the car shown in Fig. 1 with thehatch lid and plug added.

Fig. 3 is like Fig. 2 with a different lid and plug.

Fig. 4 shows the refrigerant chamber support.

The drawings illustrate the usual parts of the car, such as side wall 2,side wall sheathing 3, side wall lining 4, side wall insulating 5, roof6, roof ceiling I, roof'insulation '8, hatch opening 9 and hatch frameI0.

The hatch frame II] surrounds the hatch opening 9 with a space I2 aroundthe lower part of the frame and the refrigerant container I3 is spacedbelow the ceiling I of the car to provide a space I4 for air circulationtherebetween. This refrigerant container [3 has an opening in the upperwall I5 thereof for loading the container, which opening is surroundedby an upwardly projecting flange I3 which fits into the space l2 aroundthe hatch frame and is in overlapping relation'therewith to provide aseal between the refrigerant container I3 and the hatch frame Ill sothat liquid brine can not splash from the container into the car andalso so that ice being put into the container from the outside of thecar will not enter the space I4 between the container and'the'roof orthe space H between the container I3 and the side wall 2, andfurthermore, so that the refrigerant container I3 may be lowered so asto be removed or replaced without disturbing the roof, roof insulationor ceiling of the car.

The hatch frame preferably comprises downwardly and inwardly inclinedwalls 20 and the upwardly projecting flange I6 of the refrigerantcontainer I3 is outwardly flared so that as the refrigerant container ismoved upwardly the walls 20 of the hatch frame In engages the flange I'Bof the refrigerant container and guide it into proper position.

Fig. 2 shows a modification wherein the upstanding flange I6 is omittedon one side of the opening in the refrigerant chamber I3 so thatventilating air, being prevented by the substantially imperforatechamber I3 from flowing downwardly directly into the lading compartmentin substantial amounts, follows the path indicated by the arrows 2I. Theapron 22 is swingably hinged to the lid 24 so that when the lid is ininclined or open position (as shown in dotted lines 25) the spacebetween the ceiling I and refrigerant chamber I3 is open for aircirculation and ventilating air flows through the hatch opening 9, spaceI4, downwardly through the duct between container I3 and the adjacentcontainer and thence into the lading compartment of the car. When thelid is lowered to horizontal, or closed position, the apron 22automatically moves to the position shown in full lines'andclosesthat'portion of the space be tween the ceiling and roof when theupstanding flange is omitted.

Fig. 3 shows a modification wherein the plug 30 is attached to the lid3| by the supports 32 and the apron 33 is hinged (34) to the plug 30.Effectively, however, the apron 33 is hinged to the lid 3| for thepurpose of this invention.

The vertical side walls All of the containers I3 form parts of a closedlattice truss extending between the opposite side walls 2 of the car.The truss comprises an upper chord 43, a lower chord 44, and strutsconsisting of the diagonal members 4i and the splice plate 45. The sidewall sheets 40 would be made relatively thin so that the structure wouldfunction as a truss instead of a girder because the members 4! andsplice plate 45 are relatively stiff. However, it is not to be construedthat the invention is limited to either a truss or a girder but isintended to include any beam extending between the side walls of thecar. The end wall sheets 46 extend between the side wall sheets 4i! andfunction as beams between the truss of which the side wall sheets to area part. The bracket arrangement provides means to attach and alsopreferably support the trusses to the side walls 2 of the car. Thebracket arrangement is arranged so that the truss and container may bedetached from the side walls and lowered without disturbing the roof ofthe car.

The bracket arrangement shown comprises a bracket 5i) secured to theside wall 2 of the car and a bracket 5| spanning the distance betweenand secured to adjacent refrigerant containers I3 which also form cornerreinforcements for the containers. Brackets 5H and 5! are securedtogether by a pin 52 which is removed to lower the containers.

The retaining wall plates may be solid when brine is used as arefrigerant and perforated or otherwise apertured when wet ice is used.In the latter case, drip pans or other means are preferably providedbelow the refrigerant containers to prevent the melted ice from drippingupon the commodity within the car. Also when substantially imperforatecontainers are provided for the retention of brine, the walls of suchcontainers may have a few relatively small overflow apertures disposed asubstantial distance above the bottoms of the containers.

By forming and constructing the vertical walls of the adjacentcontainers to provide trusses or guides between the opposite side wallsof the car no cross beams nor framework is necessary.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of theinvention, though it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as itis obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of theclaims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator car, a roof having a hatchway therein, a framesurrounding said hatchway with a space around the lower part of theframe, a hatch lid hinged at one side of the hatchway, a refrigerantcontainer below said frame and spaced therefrom to provide a spacetherebetween, said container having an opening in the upper wall thereofsurrounded on three sides by an upwardly projecting flange fitting insaid space in overlapping relation with the hatch frame for the purposespecified and whereby the refrigerant container may be removed andreplaced without disturbing the roof, and an apron hinged to the lid andarranged to close the space between the container and the hatch framewhen the lid is in closed position and to open the space between thecontainer and the hatch frame when the lid is in open position.

2. In a refrigerator car, a roof having a hatchway therein, a framesurrounding said hatchway with a space around the lower part of theframe, a refrigerant container below said frame and spaced therefrom toprovide a space therebetween, said container having an opening in theupper wall thereof surrounded by an upwardly projecting flange fittingin said space in overlapping relation with the hatch frame for thepurpose specified, the vertical side walls of said container comp-risinga closed lattice truss extending between the opposite side walls of thecar, and means to attach said truss to said side wall so that the trussmay be detached from the side walls and lowered without disturbing theroof of the car.

3. In a refrigerator car, a roof having a hatchway therein, a framesurrounding said hatchway with a space around the lower part of theframe, a hatch plug engaging the frame to close the hatchway, arefrigerant container below said frame and spaced therefrom to provide aspace therebetween, said container having an opening in the upper wallthereof surrounded on three sides by an upwardly projecting flangefitting in said space in overlapping relation with the'hatch frame forthe purpose specified and whereby the refrigerant container may beremoved and replaced without disturbing the roof, and an apron hingedto. the hatch plug and arranged to close the space between the containerand the hatch frame when the plug is in closed position and to open thespace between the container and the hatch frame when the plug is in openposition.

4. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart vertical walls, a roofextending therebetween, and a hatchway in said roof, the combination ofa bracket on each vertical wall, and a refrigerant container under saidhatchway, the side walls of said container formed to constitute beamsextending between and supported by said brackets and the end walls. ofsaid container formed to constitute beams extending between andsupported by the first mentioned beams.

5. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart vertical walls, a roofextending therebetween, a hatchway in said roof, and a frame surroundingsaid hatchway in combination with a bracket on each vertical wall, and arefrigerant container under said hatchway having an opening in the upperwall thereof surrounded by an upstanding flange, which flange surroundsthe hatchway frame the side walls of said container formed to constitutebeams extending between and supported by said brackets and the end wallsof said container formed to constitute beams extending between andsupported by the first mentioned beams.

6. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart vertical walls, a roofextending thercbetween, a hatchway in said roof, and a frame surroundingsaid hatchway in combination with a bracket on each vertical wall, and arefrigerant container under said hatchway having an opening in the upperwall thereof surrounded by an upstanding flange, overlapping thehatchway frame whereby the container may be removed without disturbingthe roof, the side walls of said container formed to constitute beamsextending between and connected to said brackets and the end walls ofsaid container formed to constitute beams extending between andsupported by the first mentioned beams, said brackets and containerassociated and arranged so that when the container is disconnected fromthe brackets the container may be lowered vertically without removingthe brackets from the side walls.

'7. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart vertical walls, a roofextending therebetween and a hatch in said roof, the combination of arefrigerant container under said hatch, the side Walls of said containerformed to constitute beams extending between and supported by said Wallsand the end walls of said container formed to constitute beams extendingbetween and supported by the first mentioned beams.

8. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart vertical walls, a roofextending therebetween and a hatch in said roof adjacent each of saidwalls, the combination of a refrigerant container under each of saidhatches, and beams extending between and supported by said walls, eachbeam forming a side wall of both of said containers and the end walls ofsaid containers formed to constitute beams extending between andsupported by the first mentioned beams.

9. In a refrigerator car having a hatch in the roof, a. hatchframesurrounding said hatch, a plug adapted to close said hatch, and arefrigerant container below said hatch and spaced from said roof, thetop of said container being provided with a hole having an upstandingperipheral flange which meets the lower part of said frame, thecombination of an opening in said flange, and an apron hinged to saidplug and adapted to cover said opening when said plug closes said hatchand to uncover said opening when the hatch is open.

10. In a refrigerator car having a hatch in the roof, a hatchframesurrounding said hatch, a plug adapted to close said hatch, and arefrigerant container below said hatch and spaced from said roof, thetop of said container being provided with a hole having an upstandingperipheral flange which meets the lower part of said frame, thecombination of an opening in said flange, and

means to close said opening when said hatch is closed and to open saidopening when said hatch is open.

11. In a refrigerator car having a hatch in the roof, a hatchframesurrounding said hatch, a plug adapted to close said hatch, and arefrigerant container below said hatch and spaced from said roof, thetop of said container being provided with a hole having an upstandingperipheral flange which meets the lower part of said frame, thecombination of an opening in said flange, and means associated with saidplug to close said opening when said hatch is closed and to open saidopening when said hatch is open.

12. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart vertical walls, a roofextending therebetween and a hatch in said roof, the combination of arefrigerant container under said hatch, the side walls of said containerformed to constitute beams extending between and supported by said wallsand the end walls of said container formed to constitute beams extendingbetween and supported by the first mentioned beams, the means forsupporting said beams upon said walls being formed so that the containermay be removed without disturbing the roof or walls of the car.

13. In a refrigerator car having a roof and a lading compartment; meansdisposed below said roof and above said lading compartment arranged toform a refrigerant container and a duct extending upwardly from thelading compartment adjacent said container; and a hatch in said roofabove said container, said container having a top, bottom and wallswhich are substantially imperforate except for an opening in said topaligned with said hatch for loading refrigerant into the container, saidmeans, at least partially in cooperation with the'upper part of saidcar, being arranged to form a duct which communicates with said hatchand the upper part of said first mentioned duct, said ducts beingarranged to direct air from said hatch at least partially across theoutside surface of said container and into said lading compartment.

14. In a refrigerator car having a roof and a lading compartment; meansdisposed below said roof and above said lading compartment arranged toform a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers and a duct extendingupwardly from the lading compartment between said containers; and ahatch in said roof above one of said containers, said last mentionedcontainer having a top, bottom and walls which are substantiallyimperforate except for an opening in said top aligned with said hatchfor loading refrigerant into the container, said means, at leastpartially in cooperation with the upper part of said car, being arrangedto form a duct which communicates with said hatch and the upper part ofsaid first mentioned duct, said ducts being arranged to direct air fromsaid hatch at least partially across the outside surface of said lastmentioned container and into said lading compartment.

15. In a refrigerator car having a roof and a lading compartment; meansdisposed below said roof and above said lading compartment arranged toform a refrigerant container and a duct extending upwardly from thelading compartment adjacent said container; and a hatch in said roofabove said container, said container having an opening in the upper partthereof aligned with said hatch for loading refrigerant into thecontainer and a bottom and walls which are substantially imperforate,said means, at least partially, in cooperation with the upper part ofsaid car, being arranged to form a duct which communicates with saidhatch and the upper part of said first mentioned duct, said ducts beingarranged to direct air from said hatch at least partially across theoutside surface of said cons tainer and into said lading compartment.

16. In a refrigerator car having a roof and a lading compartment; meansdisposed below said roof and above said lading compartment arranged toform a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers; and a hatch in saidroof above one of said containers, said last mentioned container havinga top, bottom and Walls which are substantially imperforate except foran opening in said top aligned with said hatch for loading refrigerantinto the container, said means, at least partially in cooperation withthe upper part of said car, being arranged to form a duct whichcommunicates with said hatch and the upper part of said ladingcompartment, said duct being arranged to direct air from said hatch atleast partially across the outside surface of said last mentionedcontainer and into said lading compartment.

GARTH G. GILPIN.

